Drones, Helping To Clear The Way For Airplanes In Wisconsin
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by Hal Davis
WisDOT Bureau of Aeronautics
or pilots, a freshly paved runway or new terminal building are airport improvements that are easy to recognize and appreciate. Conversely, obstruction clearing can be one of the most challenging improvements made at an airport, but often goes unnoticed by airport users. While many parts of Wisconsin are home to pristine forests, trees close to
Hal Davis
24 DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE
the runway can pose a hazard to aircraft. We may think of ourselves as capable backcountry pilots, but the truth is, a shallow, stable approach to the runway is generally safest for most pilots and aircraft. Clear approaches also increase the margin for error during the most critical phases of flight, which is especially important in poor weather conditions. For these reasons, identifying and mitigating trees and other obstructions is a never-ending project for many Wisconsin airports. In Wisconsin, we require all public-use airports to provide a clear 20:1 approach slope to the runway threshold. This means for every 20 horizontal feet you move away from the threshold, the allowable height increases by 1 foot. For
